Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, today filed an amicus brief in support of the federal Keeping Families Together (KFT) program, which allows certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residence.
In the brief, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Raoul and the coalition argue both that the federal government has the authority to implement the program, and the program’s goal, protecting family unity, has been a hallmark of U.S. immigration policy for decades.
“As the proud son of immigrants and as Attorney General, I have seen the benefits experienced by families and communities when we ensure that families are kept together and that family members of U.S. citizens are ultimately able to apply for permanent residence,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general to advocate for immigrants’ rights and make sure the United States will always be a country that celebrates diversity and the many contributions immigrant communities make to our states.”
In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the KFT program, under which certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who are also living in the United States can apply for a discretionary grant of immigration parole. Having parole would permit these family members to apply for permanent residence without first needing to depart the United States.
Raoul and the coalition argue in their brief that the federal government has the authority to implement immigration parole programs and has exercised that authority for decades, over the span of presidential administrations of different parties. Attorney General Raoul and the coalition also explain that keeping families together is a core principle of U.S. immigration policy and has benefits not only for families but for neighborhoods, communities and local economies.
Joining Attorney General Raoul in filing the brief are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
